Exhibiting top



May 2, 1944.

F. E. THOMAS Y EXHIBITING TOP Filed March 1l, 1942 Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED y STATES PATENT OFFICE EXHIBITING Tor Frank E. Thomas, Chicago, Ill. Application March 11, 1942, Serial No. 434,227

5 claims.

VMy invention relates to an improved top, or similar spinning device, exhibiting one or more name plates, which may be interchangeably secured to the said spinning device maintaining the said name plates in display for study, or educational purposes, combined With amusement features, and permitting the plates to be concealed within a recess in the said top structure when the device is not in motion.

An object of my invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character which will maintain in display one or more name plates by virtue of the centrifugal action of the said spinning device, being also provided with cam means adapted to maintain in upward and exposed position name plates interchangeably secured within y the said spinning device.

Another object of my invention is to provide a spinning device of the aforementioned character secured rotatably to a base, which permits movement of the device while the top is in motion without disturbing its rotation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a toy of the aforementioned character which in addition to possessing educational features will provide amusement, and is of a practical construction, so simple in nature as to warrant economical manufacture in quantity production.

Other features land objects of my invention will become apparent from an examination of the accompanying drawing and the ensuing description wherein like symbols are used to designate like parts, and in which;

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top elevational View of my invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view on the arcuate line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary and enlarged crosssectional view of the plate and its guide-means designated 31.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, my

invention is generally designated 5 and is comprised of a handle member 6 furnishing convenient gripping action for the hand of a person; the said handle 6 being provided with a series of webs or spokes 9, and connected to a flange portion 1 having a cam recess 8 therein. The handle member is further counter-bored at I in order to receive the base portion Il secured thereto. The handle member 6 is also provided with a pin extension I secured within a recess I5 of the base portion Il and peened over as at I1 for rigid attachment thereto.

The base flange support is designated I4 having -a series of shoulders I3 for conguration, and the semi-circular bearing recess l2 is provided as a suitable raceway for ball-bearings I8 which are confined between the recess I9 of the spinning element generally designated 20 in order to take up the gravitational thrust of the top member 20 when the same is in rotation. The top member 28 may be made of two pieces secured at the mid-point transversally and may be made of sheet metal or plastic material enclosing a hollow portion 2| for lightness.

Integrally secured to the top member 20, is th pulley member 22 with the groove 23 about which is wound the operating cord 24 used to motivate or furnish the motivating power for rotation of the top element 20. Working within the cam recess 8 is a cam structure generally designated 25 and having a cam surface 25 as better indicated a1; Figure 3, which rotates within the confines of the race 8, it being stationary and secured to the knob element 6.

In Figure 3, is shown the low portion of the cam, that is the space confined between the rising cam portion 26 which is adapted to hold in the concealed position the name plates generally designated 21 upon which a word such as victory or any other suitable word is used for educational purposes of children, it being imprinted and designated 28. This plate is provided with two extensions 29 and rounded portion 30 in order to work smoothly on the cam surfaces 26. The portion 29 will prevent the plates from being thrown out of its confines with the recess 8 of the handle member 6.

The slider elements 32 with the reduced portions 33 are provided so that they Will slidably t over the enlarged portion 3l of the raceway 8 and thus permit removal of the interchangeable name plates 21. The bead 34 furnishes guide means for the slidable confining elements 32.

When the cord 24 is wound about the groove 23 of the top, one hand holding the said cord, the' other hand holding firmly the knob 6, and by pulling the free end of the cord 24 sufcient speed and momentum is imparted to the top 20 to cause it to spin rapidly and for a certain period of time.

The plate 21, when the top is at rest, remains concealed within the raceway 8 and in between portion 26 of the cam. Because of the elevated portion 35 of the cam 25, and, moreover, because of the rounded extensions 30, the plate 21 is caused to rise and expose the symbols or indicia 28 thereof, being prevented from complete release by virtue of the extensions 29 abutting the confining elements 32. The flanged portion 1 is provided with an opening 36 Wide enough to permit plate 21 to slide freely therethru.

The speed of rotation will maintain the plate 21 aloft inasmuch as it will counteract and overcome gravity, preventing plate 21 from dropping until the` speed.. is suiciently slow for gravity to overcome vthe force of gyration tending to counteract gravity. Should it be desired, a number of plates may be interchangeably used and thus by the amusement provided in the form of a moving top, youngsters would be attracted to the educational features thus embodied in the plates.

Altho the drawing indicates a preferred form of my invention, yet it is to be understood that I reserve the right to al1 improvements thereto coming within the scope and spirit of my invention', as Well as Within the purview thereof; my invention to be limited onlyby the subjoined claims.

Having thus disclosed and revealed my invention what Il claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

, 1. Ina device of the character described, mobile standard means, top means rotatably secured thereto, cam means provided on said top means, and concealed name plate means contacting the said cam means and slidably secured toA said mobile standard means adapted to be exposed to view by virtue of the, gyration of said top means.

2..A device. ofthe character described comprising, mobile standard means provided With flanged means enclosing raceway means, top means rotatably secured to said mobile standard means, cam means integral with said top means adapted to operate in the said earn raceway means, and concealed name platemeans conned inthe said race-Way means contacting the said cam. means and adapted to be'exposed to view by virtue ofthe gyration of the said top means.

3. A device of the character described comprising, mobile standard means provided with ilanged means enclosing raceway means, top means rotatably secured to said mobile standard means, cam means integral with said top means adapted to operate in the said cam raceway means, concealed name plate means confined in the said cam raceway means contacting the said cam means and adapted to be exposed to View by virtueof the gyration of the said top means, sheave means integral with said. top means, and cord means releasably wound about said sheave means adapted to initiate rotation of said top means.

4. A device of the character described comprising, mobile standard means provided with flanged means enclosing raceway means, top means rotatably secured to said mobile standard means, cam means integral with said top means adapted to operate in the said raceway means, and concealedname plate means conned in the said raceway means contacting said cam means and adapted tol bey exposed to View by virtue of the gyr'ation of the said top means, the said concealed name plate means provided with extensions tolimit the movement thereof.

5. A device of the character described comprising, mobile standard means provided with flanged means enclosing raceway means, top means rotatably secured to said mobile standard means, cam means integral with said top means adapted to operate in the said raceway means, and concealed name plate means confined in the said raceway means contacting said cam means and adapted to be` exposed to view by virtue of the gyration-of the said top means, the said concealed name plate means provided with extensions adapted to limit the movement thereof, the opposedV portions of the said extensions being rounded to adapt the same to cooperate effectively with the said cam means.

FRANK E. THOMAS. 

